From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-The Ocean City Sharks swim team needs money to attend swim camp. Fortunately, a local bank has promised to send them if the sharks can swim a total of 75 laps by the end of the week. Each day, Coach Blue subtracts the number of laps completed from the total, providing examples of two-digit subtraction. Bright cartoons show a group of enthusiastic sharks carrying book bags and wearing colorful bathing suits. The coach writes the math problems out on a big sign and discusses each new subtraction, allowing readers to follow along and cheer the team on. Regrouping is included, but the concept of changing tens into ones is not fully explained. Still, this entertaining story would work well as a supplement to lessons on two-digit subtraction.
Melinda Piehler, North Tonawanda Public Library, NY Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Gr. 2-4. Like other books in the MathStart series, this presents a mathematical concept in the framework of a story. Here, a shark swim team practices subtraction of two-digit numbers as it tries to reach a goal of 75 laps. The focus is on the subtraction, which gets progressively more difficult as the predictable story goes on. Swordfish Coach Blue explains the process in each example. Perceptive children will note that the swimmers' performance improves with practice and that one shark uses division to determine the number of laps each teammate must still swim. Lynne Cravath's illustrations, in swimming-pool hues, feature amusing details and an interesting assortment of sharks, from twin hammerheads to Tiny, the hair-bowed whale shark. An appendix suggests activities to extend the lesson and includes a list of other books with a subtraction theme. Sharks, sports, and subtraction--a winning combination.
Catherine AndronikCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
